Black Friday heats up before turkey cools tonight

Some stores open tonight to attract bargain hunters

Sherita Dudley checks out Christy Lopacki the first customer to finish shopping at Toys R Us in Tuscaloosa on Nov. 25 2011.

Michelle Lepianka Carter | Tuscaloosa News

By Patrick RupinskiBusiness Editor

Published: Thursday, November 22, 2012 at 3:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, November 21, 2012 at 5:35 p.m.

TUSCALOOSA | It’s all in the numbers.

The earlier you get in line before the stores open for Black Friday, the better your chances are to get door-busting bargains as shoppers compete to get the most bang for their bucks.

But on the day that traditionally marks the start of the holiday shopping season, retailers, too, vie for the bucks.

So they are opening their doors earlier than ever in hope of by getting a jump on their competition.

Some retailers will start their Black Friday door-buster sales tonight, even before the Thanksgiving dinner leftovers have had time to cool in the refrigerator.

Retail powerhouses like Walmart, Sears, Kmart and Toys R Us will open their doors at 8 p.m. That means some folks could have their holiday shopping done by the time the clock strikes midnight and the historical Black Friday begins.

In the mad rush to lure shoppers, some retailers started featuring holiday specials more than a week ago.

Again, it’s all in the numbers.

“The holiday shopping season can account for as much as 40 percent of a retailer’s annual sales,” said Kristy Reynolds, the Bruno professor of marketing at the University of Alabama’s business college.

She said nationally holiday sales are expected to rise 4.1 percent this year, a smaller increase than the 5.6 percent seen last year. The Alabama Retail Association projections indicate state shoppers will spend $350 million more with state retailers during the holiday shopping season, pushing the total to more than $9 billion.

But the competition for that spending is extremely intense, Reynolds said.

“This is why stores are opening earlier than ever and offering even bigger promotions,” she said. “They want to be the first place where the shopper’s dollar is spent.”

She noted Walmart, one of the country’s largest retailers, did market research that showed one of the best times to attract Black Friday shoppers was between 8 and 10 p.m. today — thus its early opening.

That will cause many early-bird shoppers to start forming lines outside some stores before sunset. But not all are happy to see Black Friday creep into Thanksgiving Day.

“Some employees have not been enthusiastic about the early opening hours,” Reynolds said. “Two Target employees started an online petition asking the store to stay closed on Thanksgiving.”

Target opens for Black Friday at 9 tonight.

Some Walmart employees also are protesting the encroachment on the holiday with employees in some cities threatening to stage protests or wildcat strikes at stores.

The competition to attract customers is not limited to the big-box stores. National chains that have smaller specialty stores and even independent stores are in the mix, too.

Denise Connell, assistant property manager and marketing director at University Mall, said the mall and 15 to 20 of its non-anchor retailers will open at midnight or shortly thereafter tapping into the crowds expected for Belk’s midnight opening and Sears’ even earlier opening at 8 tonight. Those smaller retailers are mostly affiliated with national retail chains, she said.

Many locally owned businesses also will have their own promotions and specials for Black Friday.

For example, Temple Gym, an independently owned fitness center on Union Chapel Road in Northport, is offering a Black Friday Only special — $10 gift cards that are good for a three-month gym membership worth $165.

“Anyone can come in and buy as many gift cards as they want” from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., said gym owners Shannon and Kristi Cook in a statement.

The offer is not a money maker but it is designed to attract new members and hope they stay after the trial period, they said.

While many shoppers will plot strategies for hitting the stores, others are expected to shop online this weekend.

“Online sales are also very important,” Reynolds said. “Amazon.com has been offering deals every day since Nov. 1. There are online deals all week, Thanksgiving Day, and throughout the weekend.

“Last year, online sales accounted for nearly 40 percent of Black Friday weekend sales. Some retailers are offering even bigger deals if shoppers download the stores’ apps and sign up for emails.”

The intense competition will likely lead to good deals throughout the shopping season, Reynolds said.

But she cautioned that shoppers need to do their homework. She cited a recent Wall Street Journal article that some items advertised as Black Friday specials were not the retailers’ best sales price.

Stores will continue with sales items this weekend and in the weeks leading up to Christmas with many retailers opening earlier and closing later.

Stores in Tuscaloosa should see good business Saturday morning, but in the afternoon, the Iron Bowl, which is being played at Bryant-Denny Stadium starting at 2:30, will take center stage.

“I think some shoppers will shop before and after the game,” Reynolds said. “Some shoppers may take advantage of stores being less crowded during the game. If shoppers think the deals are good enough, they will shop through the weekend.”

<p>TUSCALOOSA | It's all in the numbers. </p><p>The earlier you get in line before the stores open for Black Friday, the better your chances are to get door-busting bargains as shoppers compete to get the most bang for their bucks.</p><p>But on the day that traditionally marks the start of the holiday shopping season, retailers, too, vie for the bucks. </p><p>So they are opening their doors earlier than ever in hope of by getting a jump on their competition. </p><p>Some retailers will start their Black Friday door-buster sales tonight, even before the Thanksgiving dinner leftovers have had time to cool in the refrigerator. </p><p>Retail powerhouses like Walmart, Sears, Kmart and Toys R Us will open their doors at 8 p.m. That means some folks could have their holiday shopping done by the time the clock strikes midnight and the historical Black Friday begins.</p><p>In the mad rush to lure shoppers, some retailers started featuring holiday specials more than a week ago.</p><p>Again, it's all in the numbers.</p><p>“The holiday shopping season can account for as much as 40 percent of a retailer's annual sales,” said Kristy Reynolds, the Bruno professor of marketing at the University of Alabama's business college. </p><p>She said nationally holiday sales are expected to rise 4.1 percent this year, a smaller increase than the 5.6 percent seen last year. The Alabama Retail Association projections indicate state shoppers will spend $350 million more with state retailers during the holiday shopping season, pushing the total to more than $9 billion.</p><p>But the competition for that spending is extremely intense, Reynolds said.</p><p>“This is why stores are opening earlier than ever and offering even bigger promotions,” she said. “They want to be the first place where the shopper's dollar is spent.” </p><p>She noted Walmart, one of the country's largest retailers, did market research that showed one of the best times to attract Black Friday shoppers was between 8 and 10 p.m. today — thus its early opening.</p><p>That will cause many early-bird shoppers to start forming lines outside some stores before sunset. But not all are happy to see Black Friday creep into Thanksgiving Day.</p><p>“Some employees have not been enthusiastic about the early opening hours,” Reynolds said. “Two Target employees started an online petition asking the store to stay closed on Thanksgiving.”</p><p>Target opens for Black Friday at 9 tonight.</p><p>Some Walmart employees also are protesting the encroachment on the holiday with employees in some cities threatening to stage protests or wildcat strikes at stores.</p><p>The competition to attract customers is not limited to the big-box stores. National chains that have smaller specialty stores and even independent stores are in the mix, too.</p><p>Denise Connell, assistant property manager and marketing director at University Mall, said the mall and 15 to 20 of its non-anchor retailers will open at midnight or shortly thereafter tapping into the crowds expected for Belk's midnight opening and Sears' even earlier opening at 8 tonight. Those smaller retailers are mostly affiliated with national retail chains, she said.</p><p>Many locally owned businesses also will have their own promotions and specials for Black Friday. </p><p>For example, Temple Gym, an independently owned fitness center on Union Chapel Road in Northport, is offering a Black Friday Only special — $10 gift cards that are good for a three-month gym membership worth $165.</p><p>“Anyone can come in and buy as many gift cards as they want” from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., said gym owners Shannon and Kristi Cook in a statement.</p><p>The offer is not a money maker but it is designed to attract new members and hope they stay after the trial period, they said.</p><p>While many shoppers will plot strategies for hitting the stores, others are expected to shop online this weekend.</p><p>“Online sales are also very important,” Reynolds said. “Amazon.com has been offering deals every day since Nov. 1. There are online deals all week, Thanksgiving Day, and throughout the weekend. </p><p>“Last year, online sales accounted for nearly 40 percent of Black Friday weekend sales. Some retailers are offering even bigger deals if shoppers download the stores' apps and sign up for emails.”</p><p>The intense competition will likely lead to good deals throughout the shopping season, Reynolds said.</p><p>But she cautioned that shoppers need to do their homework. She cited a recent Wall Street Journal article that some items advertised as Black Friday specials were not the retailers' best sales price.</p><p>“For example, a certain type of Ugg boots were actually cheaper in October,” Reynolds said. </p><p>Stores will continue with sales items this weekend and in the weeks leading up to Christmas with many retailers opening earlier and closing later.</p><p>Stores in Tuscaloosa should see good business Saturday morning, but in the afternoon, the Iron Bowl, which is being played at Bryant-Denny Stadium starting at 2:30, will take center stage.</p><p>“I think some shoppers will shop before and after the game,” Reynolds said. “Some shoppers may take advantage of stores being less crowded during the game. If shoppers think the deals are good enough, they will shop through the weekend.”</p>